DENVER -
In 2000, Colorado voters approved legalizing marijuana for medicinal use. A few months ago, the Obama administration defaulted to individual states for enforcement and regulation of pot and dispensaries.
Since then, more than 100 marijuana dispensaries have opened in Colorado, leading Governor Bill Ritter to announce that the state will start licensing and taxing providers in an effort to legitimize the growing industry.
Lawmakers estimate the state could reap up to $15 million a year in tax revenue, and much more at the local level.
"Ann" is a marijuana patient with a serious medical condition that causes pain; pain she once treated with narcotics which had many side effects.
She says she's in favor of regulating marijuana dispensaries like the one she uses.
"It should be taxed, and maybe if they tax it, they'd just leave us alone," Ann said. "Just go ahead and tax it and let us get what we need for our pain."
Highland Health has been in operation a year and has already been paying sales tax on its marijuana to the City and County of Denver, which will now require all dispensaries to pay for a business license and 3.62 percent sales tax.
Marijuana operators say it's a move that's overdue.
"Because a lot of [the law] is based on your assumption and research and you don't really know," said Jason Irwin, one of the managers of Highland Health Marijuana Dispensary. "There's a lot of things that are very confusing."
Some local marijuana clinics can earn tens of thousands of dollars a week
"The government should get its fair share of this; excessive taxation would be a problem but I don't think that's being proposed," said Rob Corry a longtime marijuana attorney who's executive director of the Colorado Wellness Association, a new marijuana trade and lobbying group.
"I think with taxation comes legitimacy under the law and in the public eye," said Corry.
But with several Colorado communities enacting bans or moratoriums on marijuana dispensaries, the industry worries that will only create more opportunity for black market sales and drive away legitimate operators, and tax revenues, from those towns.
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Since then, more than 100 marijuana dispensaries have opened in Colorado, leading Governor Bill Ritter to announce that the state will start licensing and taxing providers in an effort to legitimize the growing industry.
Lawmakers estimate the state could reap up to $15 million a year in tax revenue, and much more at the local level.
"Ann" is a marijuana patient with a serious medical condition that causes pain; pain she once treated with narcotics which had many side effects.
She says she's in favor of regulating marijuana dispensaries like the one she uses.
"It should be taxed, and maybe if they tax it, they'd just leave us alone," Ann said. "Just go ahead and tax it and let us get what we need for our pain."
Highland Health has been in operation a year and has already been paying sales tax on its marijuana to the City and County of Denver, which will now require all dispensaries to pay for a business license and 3.62 percent sales tax.
Marijuana operators say it's a move that's overdue.
"Because a lot of [the law] is based on your assumption and research and you don't really know," said Jason Irwin, one of the managers of Highland Health Marijuana Dispensary. "There's a lot of things that are very confusing."
Some local marijuana clinics can earn tens of thousands of dollars a week
"The government should get its fair share of this; excessive taxation would be a problem but I don't think that's being proposed," said Rob Corry a longtime marijuana attorney who's executive director of the Colorado Wellness Association, a new marijuana trade and lobbying group.
"I think with taxation comes legitimacy under the law and in the public eye," said Corry.
But with several Colorado communities enacting bans or moratoriums on marijuana dispensaries, the industry worries that will only create more opportunity for black market sales and drive away legitimate operators, and tax revenues, from those towns.
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